Mykhaylo Mudryk has enjoyed a superb season with Shakhtar. Mikolaj Barbanell/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Arsenal have submitted an opening bid of around EUR65 million for Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhailo Mudryk, sources have told ESPN.
The 21-year-old is Arsenal’s top transfer target in January, and the club have made an early formal move, although their offer — EUR45m up front with EUR25m in add ons — is well short of Shakhtar’s EUR100m valuation and is likely to be rejected.
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Sources have told ESPN that Mudryk is open to the move, and there is confidence from within Arsenal that Shakhtar will soften their stance over the fee in due course.
It is understood Arsenal’s opening offer comprises around EUR40m in an initial fee with a further EUR20m in add-ons.
Arsenal are keen to strengthen their attacking options after losing striker Gabriel Jesus for up to three months following knee surgery on an injury sustained while playing for Brazil at the World Cup in Qatar.
Head coach Mikel Arteta said last week that Arsenal would be “active” in the market but he is determined only to add top quality signings and believes Mudryk fits the bill.
Speaking after Arsenal’s 3-1 win over West Ham at Emirates Stadium on Monday, Arteta refused to be drawn on Arsenal’s formal offer for Mudryk.
“You know that I never speak about players who are not with us,” he said. “I understand that you have to ask me the question.
“We said that we will try and find ways to strengthen the team [if[ we find the right players and that’s what I can say.”
Pushed to respond to an Instagram post from Mudryk’s official account in which he was watching Arsenal’s win, Arteta added: “The good thing in England is that you don’t have many other matches in other countries at Christmas, so hopefully a lot of people watched our game and we gave them a good show.”